What do Jess Walter, Richard Miller and Dan Kolbet have in common? Hint: They are ex-Spokesman-Review staffers. And? They’ve all written books. Walter, of course, parlayed his reporting of the August 1992 Ruby Ridge siege into a book (“Every Knee Shall Bow”) and a TV miniseries. He’s now penned seven books, with the last one, “The Financial Lives of the Poets,” receiving national acclaim. Kolbet, an Avista spokesman, worked in the sports department. Now, he’s written “Off the Grid,” a futuristic thriller about a man who fights a power monopoly that decides which cities are blacked out and which aren’t. Miller, a former editor now handling Washington State University public relations, has just published an anti-vampire-genre novel about a 150-year-old vampire living in downtown Spokane, “All You Can Eat.” No Team Edward versus Team Jacob going on here/DFO, Huckleberries. More here.

Other SR weekend columns:

• Citizens ready to salute/Gary Crooks
• This tale has a familial feel to it/John Blanchette
• Idaho's dimmer economic outlook mirrors US/Betsy Russell
• A culinary odyssey to hot side of hell/Jim Kershner
• Teacher's compassion tempers girl's chaos/Shawn Vestal
• To those who disgraced law they swore to uphold/Doug Clark
• Why are ruffed grouse taking shine to North Idaho men/Rich Landers

Question: Have you read any of Jess Walter's books? Thoughts?